Beet-harvesting machine



Aug. 5. 1924. 1,503,625

S. C. BEALE BBET HARvzsTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1'7, 1920 5 Sheets-Shet l s. c. BEALE BEET HARVBSTING MACHINE ATTORNEY Filed Nov.

Aug. 5, 1924.

s.. @Bl-:ALE BEET HARVESTING MACHINE 5 Vsheets-sheet 3 Filed Ncv. 17'. 1920 @m ,W w m Z 6 E m QU ATTORNEY Vl B Aug. 5, 1924.

S. C. BEALE BET mmvaswme mums Filed Nov. 17, '192e 5 vswam-sheet 4 ATTORNEY S C BEALE BEET HARVESTING MACHINE Filed` Nov. 17

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l'NvENToR vgw? fZe' Patented iig. 5, 1924i.

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uNiTEosTArEfs PATENT o-Frice.

SAMUEL C. REALE, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSGNGR TO HORA'IIO J. FORGY, TRUSTEE, OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA.

isnnr-nnnvnsrrive MACHINE.

Application filed November 1'7, 1920. Serial No. 42e-,761.

To all zii/i077?, t 'mary concern.:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. BEALE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los vAngeles and State of California, and useful Improvements ing Machines, specilication.

have invented new in Beet-Harvestof which the following is a This invention has relation to a machine for harvesting sugar beets, and more specifically ing machine as illustrated to improvements in my beetV harvestaiid described in my pending application for Letters Patent g Serial Number 12, 1921, bearing Beet harvesting In said application is shown and of the saine general type as my present invention, which,

briefly, provides means for pulling beets out of the ground after they have been loosened by a plow, while passing over a row, and carrying them to topping knives where the tops are severed from the body portion.

ln the application above referred to, I

have shown and described a machine which will grip the beets proportionately to that part which projects above them therefrom and topping mechanism tops them in such proporti the ground, pull deliver the same to a which automatically on; in this structure, however, no means are provided for changing the proportioiiwithout supplying'V an entire new set of gripping and pulling devices.

lt is the main object of my present invention to provide a machine for the pose above set forth, and eiliciently adjusted, s

pur-

whicli may be quickly o that the beets may be topped with respect to any desired proportion of that part above the ground, without eration or substituting new The above and other o which projects stopping its opparts.

bjects, including improved means for adjusting the topping mechanism, handling and disposing of the beets and beet tops, regulating the projectin the ground, and lifting g mechanism and ground when the mafrom one lield to will be more fully description, will ims, and will beY machine the beet-pulling devices being only illus-" embodied in Vthe accompanying drawings,

in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a beet harvestembodying my improvements,

are mounted, and the plow in an elevated and inoperative position, some of the parts being omitted to 'avoid repetition.

Fig. 4lis an enlarged vertical transverse section through one of the wheels supportv ing the beet pulling mechanism, taken on the line Ll Ll of Fig. 1, showing the gripping and pulling mechanism mounted thereon in operative position, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

F 5 is an enlargement of the lower part` of at, taken approximately on the saine line, viewed in the opposite direction, showing the picking and pulling mechanism in a different position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental section, taken on the line G-b of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section, taken on the line T-7 of 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail plan view of the gearingfor operating the beet top conveying apron, and other mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a section of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing how the cani plates are arranged to cause the beet gripping jaws to open.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing how the cani plates are arranged to cause the beet gripping jaws to close and grasp a beet.

Fig. 18`is a diagrammaticy view illustrating the beet gripping mechanism in anormal and inactive or starting position.

Fig. 14 is a similar view illustrating an 'advanced step of the beet gripping mechanism in the act of becoming adjusted to a beet in the ground.

Fig. l5 is a similar view illustrating the nal step in the adjustment of the gripping taken on the line 10-10 v surface of housing jaws with respect to a beet, in full lines, and in dotted lines the gripping jaws after they have been projected into the beet.

The machine is designed to harvest two rows of beets at a time, and is made up of three groups of mechanism, a truck A, which is adapted to be drawn over direction indicated by the arrow, preferably by means of a tractor (not shown) to which it may be attached in any suitable manner; a plow supporting frame B which is attached to the truck A and adapted to'move in unison therewith; and a frame C which is also attached to the truck A and is adapted to support the beet gripping, pulling, topping and conveying mechanisms.

The truck A comprises a rectangular frame preferably made of channel iron and having the side bars 17 and 18 and the end bars 19 and 20, and at its front portion a transverse frame or housing 21 and at its rear corners the brace bars 22 and 23. The rear wheels 24 are adapted to revolve on a non-rotatable axle 25 secured to the side bars 17 and 18, and two pairs of front steering wheels 26 and 27 serve to support the front end of the truck frame A.

Each pair of the steering wheel-s 26 and,

27 is adapted to rotate on a spindle 28, which is secured to the lower end of a standard 29, which is journaled in the frame or housing 21, and is provided adjacent its top end with Va flange 30, which abuts against the lower 21 to form a turntable. Secured to the upper end of each of' the standards 29 is a worm wheel 31 enclosed in the housing 21 and adapted to engage with the worms 32 secured to a shaft 33 journaled in bearings in said housing. The shaft 33 is provided with ai miter gear 34, which meshes with a miter gear 35 secured to the end of a shaft 36 journaled in a bearing 37 secured to the housing 21; and mounted on theend of said shaft is a hand steering wheel 38, which is arranged adjacent the operators seat 39 supported on frame A. By the foregoing described arrangement it will be obvious that the operator may readily and conveniently control the direction of movement of the truck with relation to the rows of beets.

Rigidly secured to brace members 22 and 23 of the truck frame, and at the rear thereof, are two oppositely disposed upwardly extending arms 40, the lower ends of said arms which are securedto the brace members being bifurcated. Hinged to axle 25 are latch members 41, which are'joined together by a handle bar 42, that is disposed in the spaces 43 formed by the lower bifurcated ends of arms 40, in yorder that their movement may be limited.

Pivoted to the front end of truck frame A at 44, is one end of a rearwardly extending link 45 and adapted to encompass said link the field in the a. pair of oppositely disposed Vparallel chair Y nel irons 49, which are joined together at their front ends by means of' a bolt 50, and at their rear ends by means of a suitable fitting 51, to which are secured the plow members52, one for each of the two rows of beets. The frame B is hinged to the tree end of link 45 by means ofthe bolt 50 passing through the eye 53 in said link, and is consequently drawn along by truck A, and may be raised or lowered with respect to frame A and the ground at its front end by an adjustment of the eyebolt 46 3 and may be raised or lowered at its rear end by an adjustment of the set screws 54, which are threaded into ears 55 on fitting 51, the ends of which rest upon the brace bars 23 secured to truck A. By'this Varrangement it will be seen that theV plow members may be adjusted to project into the ground to any desired depth, and the points of saidplow members may be tilted at a desired angle to suit various sizes of beets and soil conditions.. Y

The fitting 51 is provided with a suitable socket member 57 into which is screwed au upstanding pipe 59 and ahorizontally Vdisposed pipe 60, which projects forwardly be tweenV the channel irons 49- and in Vpaijallel relation therewith, and has secured at its forward end a piston 61, said pipe extending through said piston and being open at Vits end. Mounted to surround the piston 61V and to be guidedy between the channel irons 49 by means of the wheels 63, is acylinder 64` which is closedV at its forward end 65. The pipe 59 is connected to a valve 67 bv means of a flexible hose 68 (shownconlv in Fig. 2 of the drawings) and said valve' has leading thereto a compressed air supply pipe 69, which extends Vforwardly and is Vconnected with a compressed air V.reservoir mounted on the tractor (not shown); and has leading therefrom an'exhaust pipe 70, and is provided with a' handle 71. A

Mounted on the fitting 51 are the idler pulleys 72 and 73 and secured to each side of the cylinder 64 at 74 are cables 7 5, which `pass over the idler pulleys 72 and 73 and admitted,the cylinder 64 will be caused to move forwardlyl in the angle irons 49 and thereby serve to move the rear end of the frame EB upwardly, the front end of said frame pivoting on bolt 50. During this movement the tting 51 engages with latch 41 and when `said iitting reaches the top thereof, said latch will fall underneath the fitting and thereby permanently hold the frame B and the plow members 52 up above the ground, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. `When it is desired to lower the frame, the'air from cylinder 64 may be exhausted through pipe by proper manipulation of the handle 71 on valve 67, and the latch 41 swung away from'underneath the fitting 51, the'frame B will thereby descend by force of gravity.

' The `irame C comprises a pair of oppositely disposedchannel irons 78 arranged in parallel relation and secured together at their ends by means of bars 79 and 80, and said frame is secured at its front end to truck frame A by means of va universal joint 81. 'Interposed betweenthe channel irons 78 at a point approximately midway between its ends, Ais a sleeve 83 through which extends a stud "bolt 84, the ends of which project beyond the outer `surfaces of said channel irons as more clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, said stud bolt being secured against rotation by any suitable means.

Journaled on the stud bolt ends 84 are the beet pulling `mechanism supporting wheels 85, one for each of fthe two rows of beets to be operated upon, and as these wheels are identical in construction, a description of one will suiiice for the other.

The wheel 85 comprises a hub 86 adapted to rotate on the 'stud bolt 84.` Mounted on vsaid hub is a drum 87 from which radiate a plurality of spokes 88 and mounted onthe outer vends thereof is another drum 89 provided on its periphery with a plurality of transverse slots 90. Extending radially and outwardly from the drum 89 and arranged adjacent its edges are the oppositely disposed spokes 91, upon which are secured the wheel rims 92, which are oppositely disposed :and spaced suitably apart, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Arranged between the spokes 91 and extending from the drum 89 to the lrim 92 are the ppositely Vdisposed sleeves 93, which are held in position by mea-ns of the bolts 94.

Mounted to reciprocate radially between the wheel rim Vmembers 92 and each oppositely disposed pair of sleeves 93, and in slots 90, is a frame. 94, which comprises an inwardly extending ,portionV 95 and an outwardly extending arched cross bar 96. The frame 94 is guided jat its inner end by means 'of the pins '97 which are 'secured thereto. and project through apertures in the drum 87, land at its y'outer end by 'means of rollers 98 `lever 118 are threaded which are secured to the ends of cross bar 96 and engage on opposite sides of sleeves 93; and secured to the opposite ends of the studs of each pair of said rollers is a bar 99 upon which the actuating rollers 100 are mounted.

Pivoted at 101 to the inwardly extending portion 95 or trame 94 are the outwardly extending'oppositely disposed members 102, to which are secured the gripping and pulling members 103. Members 103 are prei'erably formed oit' round spring bar steel and at their outer ends are bifurcated as at 104, said ends being turned inwardly and formed Ainto beet piercing jaws 105. Pivoted to cross bar 96 at 106 are inwardly extending levers 107, which are provided on their inner ends with rollers 108 adapted to engage with cam plates 109, said levers 107 being connected to members 102 by means of links '110. By this arrangement it will be seen that as the rollers 108 roll along the cam plates 109, the gripping and pulling members 103 will be actuated to open and close the piercing jaws 105.

Pivoted at 111 to the frame 94 A112, one end of said lever projecting inwardlytowards the portion 95 and having pivoted thereto Vat 113 an outwardly extending rod 114 which passes through a socket in member 95 and extends beyond the cross -bar 96 and has secured to its end a presser foot 115, said presser foot being preferably in the form oic a grid, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, through openings in which the members 104 are adapted to pass. The `opposite end of lever 112 is provided with a roller 116 adapted to rest between a stationary cam ring 117 and an adjustably mounted cam lever 118.

.The cam ring 117 and one of the cam plates 109 are supported on a spider frame 119 secured to the end or' stud bolt 84, and the other cam plate 109 is supported on a plate 120 secured to one of the channel irons 78. The cam lever 118 is pivoted at one of its ends at 121 to the spider frame 1.19 and at its opposite end at 122 to the lower end of a downwardly projecting rod 123, which is slidably mounted in a casing 124 secured to the spider frame 119. The upper end of rod 123 is threaded to receive the adjusting nut 125, which rests on the top of casing 124. The cam lever 118 is adapted to be adjusted inwardly and outwardly on the pivots 121 and 122 in the following manner. Headed pins 126 are threaded respectively into the spider frame 119 and the end of rod 123 and mounted to rotate on said pins are exteriorly threaded sleeves 127 `interposed respectively between the heads of said pins and the face of spider 119 and the face oft rod 123. The opposite ends of the cam on the sleeves 127, as `more clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. By the 'foregoing recited construction it will be is a lever housing 144 having obvious that the lever 118 may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly on the sleeves 127 by turning said sleeves in the proper direction, and that said sleeves may be clamped firmly between the heads of pins 126 and their respective supports by an adjustment of said pins, thus enabling an operator to vary the point of contact between the lever 118 and the roller 116 on lever 112. 1t will also be obvious that by a manipulation of the nut 125 on rod 123 the distance between said lever and the cam ring 117 may be varied g at will. When the beet gripping and pulling jaws 105 have become automatically adjusted to a beet and while they are projected into the beet and the beet is being pulled from the ground it is desirable that the mechanism should be firmly locked in said Vadjusted position. To this end I provide a knife disc 130, which is mounted on the frame 94 and adapted to engage during this operation of the gripping and pulling mechanism with V shaped rack teeth 131 secured to plate 120.

As the wheel revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, by frictional Contact with the ground, the frame 94 is held from descending rapidly toward the ground `and in adjusted relation to a beet, by means of the cam tracks 133, which are supported on the frame C, and upon which the rollers rest; and in-order to positively move said frame downwardly to engage the presser foot member upon the top of a beet, the cam rolls 134 are adapted to engage with thetop peripheral surfaces of rollers 100 and are yieldingly mounted on spring arms 135, which are secured to frame C. Y

After the beets are pulled from the ground and are carried upwardly by the wheel 85, the rollers 100 become engaged with cam tracks 136, which serve to adjust them with reference to a topping mechanism 137, and the cam track 117 acts upon the roller lever 112 to draw the presser foot 115 away from the top of the beet and the foliage thereon.

The topping mechanism 137 is supported by means of a pair of inclined struts 139, which are pivoted at their lower ends at i 140 to the frame C, and an inclined hollow strut 141 which projects upwardly from a housing 142 which is pivotally mounted on a hollow standard 143 secured to frame C The upper end of strut 141 terminates in a oppositely disposed transverse hollow arms 145 extending therefromu- A The upper ends of struts 139 have secured thereto a transverse bar 146 provided with longitudinally disposed arms 147 and 148. The arms 145 are pivoted in sockets 149 formed in the ends of arms 147 and extend outwardly therefrQlll .and have pivoted va bearing secured thereto,

thereto the housings 150, the opposite 'endsY .pivoted in sockets on the arms` of which are Depending from the bottom of each housing 150 are the sleeves 151, 152 and 153, which radiate from the pivotal center thereof, and journaled therein are the shafts 154, 157 and 156 upon which are mounted the dish shaped cutting discs 158, 159, and 160. Mounted on the upper end of shaft 154 is a bevel gear 161, which meshes with a bevel ear 162 secured to shaft 157 and mounted on shaft 156 is avbeveled gear 163 which meshes with gear 161; and alsomounted on the top of shaft 156 is another gear V164 which meshes with a gear 165 secured to the transverse shaft 166 journaled in bearings in extensions 145. v

Secured to shaft 166 is aV end of a shaft 169 journaled in strut 141, and secured 'to the lower end of said shaft is a gear 170, which meshes `with agear 171 secured'to a horizontally disposed shaft 172 journaled in bearings in extensions 173 prov jeeting transversely from casing 142. Secured to the ends of shaft 172 are the toothed discs 174 adapted to engage with the gear 167 whichV meshes with a. gear 168 secured to the upper severed foliage ofthe beet and direct the same out to an apron V175 mounted on frame C.

Mounted in suitable bearings in standard V143, is a shaft 177 providedat `its top with a gear 178, which meshes with gear 171,

and secured toV the lower end of said shaftl is a gear 179 adapted to mesh with a gear 180 secured to a. shaft 181 journaled in bearings mounted in frame C. Secured to the inwardly projecting end of shaft 181 is a bevelled gear 182 adapted to mesh with a gear 183 secured to a horizontally disposed shaft v184 mounted in suitable bearings in frame C, land secured to each end-of said shaft are the spur pinion's 185 .adapted to mesh with spur gears hubs 86 of the wheels 85.

. Mounted loosely on shaft 181 are thev miter gears 187 which are centrally dis- Vposed'with respect to apron 175 and rest between the two-legs thereof, and secured toa transversely disposed shaft 189 mounted in bearings in frame C is a miter gear 190 adapted to mesh with the gears 187, as more clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Secured to the outwardly projecting end of 186 secured to thev shaft 189 is al miter gear 191 adapted to Y mesh with miter gear 192 secured to a, shaft 193 journaled between two side bars 194 in and having mounted upon its oppositely disposed ends the pulleys 195 over which the apron 175 passes. The apron 17 5 isl alsoV 'supported at its oppositeV end and passies Vover pulleys 196 mounted on the shaft 197 Mounted to slide on shaft"y 181 and ar- 1 be moved into ldiscs topick the severed ranged between the miter gears 187 and adapted to be caused `to rotate therewith b` means of a key198 secured to said shaft, is a clutch member 199, which is adapted to clutching engagement with either of said miter gears 187 by'means of the yoke 200 securedtoa rod 201 slidably mounted in side bars 194. One end of rod 201'is pivoted at 202'to an upstanding lever 203, which is pivoted at 204 to upright 1.43 andhas pivoted at 205 at its upperend the shifting lever 206," said shifting lever being provided with suitable notches 207 adapted to engage over the'hopper like eXtension'OS of one of theside bars 194.

i' By the foregoing recited arrangement of gearing it will be apparent that upon revoi lutionof either or both of the wheels 85 motion will be imparted to beet cutting discs 158, 159 and 160 in the directionsindicated l*by the arrows in Fig. 2V of thedrawings, and that also motion will be imparted tovtheitoothed discs 170 in the direction indicated by the arrow, thus causing 'said and vwasted portion of the beets rfrin'oi the gripping "and pulling mechanism and to deliver thei'same onto the apron 175. By this string'of gears and by the yproper manipulation'of shifting lever 206 it; will beobvious that the apron 175 may be caused to remain stationary as illustrated in'iFig8, or that the top lieg of said apronl maybe cansed tof'move transversely towards eitherY side of the machine. By this arrangement it will be obvious that the operator may allow a quantity lfof the waste beet ends to accumulate on thea Irion 175 and by a manipulationof Vlever 2061inay diiinpthis waste material atinterval's on the ground'aat the desired side ofthe machine. Supported on the channel irons -78fa'ndv by means" of upwardly extending'struts V209 arranged between the two sidesl of wheels 85 and vunder the beet cuttingi'di'sc's at one end and vextending rearwardly and upwardly are the side bars 2,10 and mounted in bef tween said side bars on rollers'211 and 212 and adapted to form a movable bottom between'said side bars is an endless apron 213,' said apron being' driven byineans of pinions A214 secured'to the shaft 215 of roller 211 Vand being adapted to mesh with the gears 186 mounted on the hnhs of wheels 85. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the beets are severed by the'cutting discs 158and 159, they will ride uponthe upper surfaces of said discs and will be picked up bythe discs 160' and delivered lon the apron 218 and from there delivered into a wagon adaptedto follow the machine'orA into A A to the end of the 4side bars 210.

Then is desired to adjust the putting discs upwardly with reference to the pulling and gripping mechanism in order that they suitable `sacks attached a may be projected in close proximity with y the gripping jaws, the strut members 139 are provided with turn buckles 216, which when properly manipulated will cause the discs to swing around the Ashaft 172; and in order to adjust the cutting discs forwardly and rearwardly with reference to the cam plates 109,1 provide the hand wheels 217, the stems 218 of `which are journaled in lugs mounted on transverse bar 146, Vsaid stem being proyided with collars 219 arrangedoireach side o f said lug and being threaded 'at'their ends finto ysockets 220 piv# oted at 221 to the housings 150. By this arrangement it will be seen that the cutting discs may be swung in either direction aroundthe center of rotation of shaft 166. In Figures 13, 14 and 15 I have shown a lseries of diagrammatic views illustrating in the operation of the beet various steps" grippiiig and pullingmechanisinwhen becoming adjusted toand projected into a beet, andwhen int-his position the frameV 94 is held a predetermined distance above the surface of the ground bymeans of the tracks133, and asa consequence the'gripping jawsy 105 and the pivotal point l111, willV also be held a predetermined distance above the ground. The presser foot 115 supported on the lever-112 which is pivoted at '111, is held upwardly adjacent the frame 94V by means'of the ca m track 117 and when contacting therewith, as shown in Fig. 13 will also be a predetermined distance above the ground. As lthe frame 94 rides downwardly on tracks,133,the roller 116 contacts with cam lever 118 andconsequent'ly the presser foot 115 will descend at a varying speed to that o f the gripping jaws 105,

until the entire'mechanisin has been arrested in its descent byl reason of the presser foot `contacting wit the top o f a beet, as shown inA Fig. 15 'of the drawings. The ratioof the speeds of these members is determined by therlateral adjustment of the cam lever 118 with respect tothe point of contact of the roller 116` therewith, and when said ratio is once established .the gripping jaws 105V will always descend to t e same 'relative position opposite a beet, regardless of the distance said beet projects above the ground.

At certainV seasons of the year a hard knot l) (see Figures 13, 14 and 15) forms on the top of the beets and it is desired to eliminate this part of the beet before the ratio ofspeeds of the presser foot and gripping jaws is-started, and to` this end the vertical adjustment of the cam lever 118 is provided. 1t is also desirable to use this adjustment ofthe cam lever 118 in order to provide for the sin-king of the wheels 85 inf the ground. l

By the above recited construction it will be seen that the cam lever 118 may be adjusted by means of the sleeves 127 to regulate'the point of contact of the roller 116 therewith in order that the beets will be gripped by the jaws at any desired proportionate distance between the ground line and the top of the beets, and that also by an adjustment of the hand nut or wheel 125 while the machine is in motion, any desired part of the top of the beet may be eliminated from said proportionate calculation; and as stated before the hand wheel 125 may be manipulated to adjust the lever 118 to compensate for the wheel 85 sinking into the ground below the level of that part of the surface thereof above which the beets project. p

The operation of the machine is as followsz, rlhe machine is drawn over the ground in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the wheels 85 carrying the beet gripping and pulling device rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow through frictional contact with the ground. Vhen therollers 100 on the frame 94 come in contact with the cam rollers 134, the particular frame is approximately above the beet to be operated upon. Upon continued movement of wheels 85 the rollers 100 are forced downwardly by means of the cam rollers 134 and consequently the frame 94" carrying the gripping jaws 105 and the presser foot 115 moves toward the beet. When the roller 116 on lever 112 contacts with cam lever 118, thegripping jaws and the presser foot continue to move Vdownwardly but at different speeds, said ratio of speed being determined as stated before by an adjustment of the cam lever 118. When the presser foot 115 strikes the top of the beet, the entire frame 94 is arrested in its downward movement and the presser foot 115 isheld against the beet by means of the yielding movement of the cam rolls 134.

Upon continued movement of the wheels 85, the rollers 108, which operate the gripping jaws 105, are caused tol ride in the cam plates 109, as more clearly shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, and are thereby drawn together, thus causing said gripping jaws to be projected into the beet, as more clearly shown in Figures 5 and 15 of the drawings; and as the wheels 85 continue to move, the beet is drawn from the ground. During'this operation the plow points 52 are adapted to engage underneath the beet and loosen the ground therearound, thus relieving all abnormal strain upon the gripping jaws. The beet is carried upwardly in -gripped relation with the jaws 105, and during this movement the rollers 100 become engaged with the cam tracks 136, which act to present all of the gripping jaws in an exact relation just below the topping mechanism 137, and during this operation,

the roller 116 becomes engaged shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As the beets are carried forwardly they are prebetween the cutting j sented to the crotch discs 158 and 159 and are thereby severed, the main portion of the beet being carried and delivered onto the beet conveyor apron 213 by means of the cutting discs 159 and 160, as previously described. After the beets have been severed'the jaws 105 are spread apart to release the top of the beet by means of the cam plates 109, as more clearly shown in Figures 4 and `11 of the drawings. i i j As the wheels 85 continue in their movement, the top severed portion of the beet carrying the foliage is carried forward and downwardly, and becomes engaged with the teeth of revolving discs 17 4 and is thereby removed from the pulling mechanism and conveyor apron 175 and from there delivered as stated before to the ground or any suitable receptacleV delivered upon the foliage mounted at the ends of said apron. Y

As previously stated, when the machine is being turned around one field to another, mechanism is provided for lifting the plow members above thesurface of the ground, and during this operation lthe frame B of the plow members becomes engaged with the frame C ofthe pulling mechanism wheels 85, and thereby lifts said mechanism free and clear above the ground. Y Y

Vhat I claim isz 1. A beet harvesting machine, comprising a pulling mechanism adapted to grasp a beet proportionate to thatV part which projects above the ground, means for adjusting the ratio of said proportion, a topping mechanism, and means for presenting the pulling mechanism in uniform relation to said topping mechanism, whereby the same proportionate amount of the beet will always be cut away. i Y

2. A beet' harvesting machine, comprising a mechanism for gripping a beet at any predetermined proportional distance between its top and the ground, and means for operating said mechanism.

as more clearly f or transported from 3. A beet harvesting machine, comprising mechanisms for pulling a beet and severing it at any predetermined proportional distance the ground, and meansV between its top and for operating said mechanisms.

4. A beet harvesting machine, comprising a beet pulling device provided with a pair of reciprocating Vmembers co-operating with each other to reciprocate at differentl speeds,

one of said members being adapted to contact with the top of a beet andthe otherV of said members being provided Vwith .means for gripping a beet, means Vfor varying the iso ratio of speeds of said members, and means for operating said members.

5. A beet harvesting machine provided With a conveyor, a plurality of beet pulling mechanisms mounted to reciprocate on said conveyor, each of said pulling mechanisms comprising a frame, -a pair of oppositely disposed gripping members pivoted on said frame, a lever pivoted to said frame, a presser foot attached to said lever, means adjustably supported on said conveyor for moving said frame and lever at different ratios of speeds, and means supported on said conveyor for opening and closing said gripping members.

6. A beet harvesting machine provided with a conveyor adapted to rest upon the ground, a pluralityof beet pulling mechanisms mounted on said conveyor, and means for adjusting said pulling mechanisms on said conveyor With reference to that part of said conveyor Which rests upon the ground.

7. A beet harvesting machine provided With a conveyor, a plurality of beet pulling mechanisms mounted to reciprocate on said conveyor, means for positioning said pulling mechanisms in adjusted relation with a beet, and means for locking said pulling mechanisms in said adjusted relation during a beet pulling operation.

8. A beet harvesting machine, comprising a pulling mechanism adapted to grasp a beet proportionate to that part which projects above the ground, means for adjusting the ratio of said proportion, and means for operating said mechanism.

9. A beet harvesting machine, comprising a mechanism for pulling and severing a beet, means for adjusting said mechanism Whereby said beat may be severed at any predetermined place, and means for operating said mechanism.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my `name this 18th Y day of October,

SAMUEL C. BEALE. 

